Gregory Gaultier has reached the quarter-finals of the El Gouna International in Egypt ©PSA

Gregory Gaultier, second seed at the El Gouna International Squash Open, is stil on course to meet top seed and local hero Mohamed ElShorbagy after moving smoothly into the quarter-finals today.

The 35-year-old Frenchman, winner of the world title in 2015, has been troubled by injuries this season but looked in good working order as he defeated England’s Chris Simpson 11-6, 11-5, 12-10 to earn a meeting with Miguel Rodriguez on Wednesday (April 25). 

The Colombian won his second round match against Mexico's Cesar Salazar in 68 minutes, 11-7. 11-8, 8-11, 18-16.

This Professional Squash Association World Series event, taking place partly in the Squash Centre and partly in the outdoor glass court on the banks of the Red Sea,

Home player Ali Farag, third seed, reached the last eight with an 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 win over Spain’s Borja Golan, and is now due to meet fellow countryman Tarek Momen, who beat Germany’s Raphael Kandra 11-4, 11-8, 11-5.

Annie Au caused an upset when she beat Commonwealth Games champion, New Zealand's Joelle King, in the El Gouna International Open in Egypt to earn a match against home favourite Raneem El Welily ©PSA
Annie Au caused an upset when she beat Commonwealth Games champion, New Zealand's Joelle King, in the El Gouna International Open in Egypt to earn a match against home favourite Raneem El Welily ©PSA

The other side of the women's quarter-finals also took shape as home player Raneem El Welily stayed on course to meet top seed and world number one Nour El Sherbini, her fellow countrywoman, in the final.

El Welily beat England’s Sarah-Jane Perry 11-5, 8-11, 11-4, 12-10 to earn a meeting with Annie Au of Hong Kong.Au, seeded 11, upset New Zealand's number seven seed, Commonwealth Games champion Joelle King, 6-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6.

The last quarter-final pairing emerged as Egypt's third seed Nour El Tayeb and England's Alison Waters came through.

El Tayeb beat compatriot Hania El Hammany 11-7, 15-13, 11-5, and Waters advanced with a 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9 win over another Egyptian player, Nouran Gohar.